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Aquaculture production proportions and volumes that minimize environmental impacts a,b, Production proportions and volumes that supply adequate nutrients nationally while minimizing environmental impacts. a, The species composition proportions for each of the 14 aquaculture systems. b, The optimized annual production levels that minimize the environmental impact for each of the seven environmental metrics. In this scenario, SIS makes up at least a 50% proportion of total aquaculture production to meet the consumption of farmed fish in Bangladesh in 2010 (ref. ¹⁴) and match the nutrient intake provided by average wild-caught fish. Differences in production volumes between the three preferred aquaculture systems shown in b (rice and fish, S + R (gher) and Pangas (beel)) are a result of differences in edible yield among the species. Ecotoxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity; FWC, freshwater consumption; GW, global warming; HS, homestead; Land, land occupation; P + R (gher), prawn and rice in gher; S + P + R (gher), shrimp, prawn and rice in gher; S + R (gher), shrimp and rice in gher.
Source publication
Aquatic foods are a critical source of human nutrition in many developing countries. As a result, declines in wild-caught fish landings threaten nutritionally vulnerable populations. Aquaculture presents an opportunity to meet local demand, but it also places pressure on natural resource inputs and causes a range of environmental impacts. Here, we...
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Despite contributing to healthy diets for billions of people, aquatic foods are often undervalued as a nutritional solution because their diversity is often reduced to the protein and energy value of a single food type (‘seafood’ or ‘fish’)1, 2, 3–4. Here we create a cohesive model that unites terrestrial foods with nearly 3,000 taxa of aquatic foo...
Citations
... Pelleted feed can add significantly to pondwater and discharge pollution but refinement of feed management, including the use of high-quality, highly digestible feed, helps significantly in reducing the amount of waste produced and in turn, reduce nutrient accumulation (Zlaugotne et al. 2022). Increasing the proportion of small, indigenous fish species (SIS), in pond systems can also help to ensure a reduction in the amount of uneaten food by the primary production species and reduce the subsequent food and nutrient waste , Shepon et al. 2020. However, SIS are obtained mostly through fishing rather than aquaculture, and their populations have been much reduced, in turn limiting natural broodstock availability. ...
Inland fresh- and brackish aquaculture is a key component of global food security, however, its rapid growth has impacted adversely on the environment. The future growth of the aquaculture industry will need to balance food production more effectively against the exploitation of natural resources. This review considers the case for inland aquaculture in Bangladesh – currently the world's fifth-biggest inland aquaculture producer with nearly 3 million tonnes of aquaculture production (2022). Current practices associated with different forms of inland aquaculture in the country are outlined, with their associated demands on the environment highlighted. Future projections for aquaculture expansion are assessed for their potential to impact on and be limited by the availability and quality of natural resources, including freshwater, and concerns for its contamination and salinisation. The effects of land use changes, exploitation of wild populations, introduction of invasive species, and spread of diseases on potential production are also examined. The paper addresses how these challenges may be met, both for achieving production aspirations and for limiting impact on nature. The review offers a viewpoint on potential collective actions for sustainable aquaculture, aligned with Bangladesh's socioeconomic characteristics, and in collaboration with in-country partners. To achieve the projected 14% increase in production by 2025, Bangladesh's aquaculture sector must balance growth with the effective management of finite freshwater and land resources. Key recommendations include prioritising adaptations by farmers for sustainable intensification of their production and facing changing climate impacts. Aquaculture policy needs to support the provisioning of the necessary knowledge, tools, and adequate resources to enable farmers to implement resource-efficient management strategies.
... However, it has been increasingly recognized that the presence of SIS is generally a sign of a healthy ecosystem, as they play an important role in the formation of natural food webs (Shepon et al., 2020). The successful integration of SIS such as mola with carps indicates that SIS can be profitably cultured alongside carps, resulting in increased overall pond productivity and nutrient quality (Castine et al., 2017;Dubey et al., 2024a;Rajts and Shelley, 2020;Saha and Barman, 2020). ...
Introduction
Small indigenous species (SIS) of fish are rich in micronutrients that are essential to combat the existing malnutrition in Bangladesh. However, their availability is constantly decreasing due to gradual environmental degradation making their availability irregular and hence expensive in the market. Integrating SIS with carps in homestead ponds is being promoted as a form of nutrition-sensitive aquaculture to enhance both production and consumption of these nutrient-rich species. Various improved pond management techniques (IPMTs) are suggested to boost the nutrition-sensitive carp-SIS polyculture.
Objectives
This study examines the trends and factors influencing the adoption of IPMTs using the sustainable livelihood framework (SLF) approach. We address the following three key questions: (i) What are the trends in production and consumption of fish, in particular SIS from homestead ponds? (ii) Have farm households adopted or disadopted IPMTs over time? (iii) What are the determinants of adoption and disadoption of IPMTs?
Methods
Based on primary data of 234 households from Barishal district from 2014 and 2022, we perform significance tests to compare project and non-project households in 2014 versus 2022 and apply fixed effects Poisson regression and fixed effects negative binomial regression models to identify household decisions to adopt the IPMTs.
Results and conclusion
Quantitative survey results indicate a significant increase in the production and consumption of SIS over time. In 2014, the project households exhibited adoption rates of 60% or more for various IPMTs such as stocking of fast-growing species, pre-stocking liming, pond dike construction, fertilizer application, stocking of high quality fish seeds, aquatic weed control, and turbidity management. However, by 2022, some of these IPMTs were disadopted by project households and only a few techniques, including providing sunlight exposure to ponds, pre-stocking liming, and supplementary feeding, were more widely used. Additionally, many non-project households also increased their adoption rates of IPMTs significantly. The fixed effects regression model shows that adoption is positively influenced by the number of household members participating in aquaculture, size of the pond, sole ownership of the pond and the number of years household has been involved in aquaculture. Follow-up activities such as monitoring and training of the project beneficiaries and government support are recommended to support long-term adoption of the IPMTs.
... Nutrition-sensitive aquaculture advocates for a food-based approach to aquaculture development, emphasizing the production of nutrient-rich small fish alongside conventional carp polyculture to enhance nutritional outcomes Shepon et al., 2020;Thorne-Lyman, 2020). This approach focuses on introducing mola carplet (Amblypharyngodon mola, hereafter referred to as "mola"), which is notably superior in micronutrient content compared to commonly farmed species like carps and tilapia. ...
Introduction
Aquatic foods, particularly fish, are essential for addressing malnutrition, especially in vulnerable populations like children and women. In India, traditional aquaculture practices centered around carp species often overlooked the production of nutrient-rich small fish. To address this, nutrition-sensitive aquaculture approaches advocate for integrating species like mola carplet (Amblypharyngodon mola) rich in micronutrients, into existing systems. In Odisha, India, where poverty and food insecurity are prevalent, the government initiated a program to empower women through aquaculture, focusing on nutrition-sensitive carp-mola polyculture in community ponds through Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs).
Methods
This study evaluates the effectiveness of this government program in enhancing income, household nutrition, and women’s empowerment. Data from field surveys conducted across all 30 districts of Odisha were analyzed to assess participation, capacity building, adoption of better management practices (BMPs), productivity of carp-mola polyculture, household fish consumption, and profitability.
Results and discussion
The study found widespread participation and adoption of BMPs among WSHGs, leading to increased productivity and income. Carp-mola polyculture systems showed higher productivity and consumption rates, contributing to improved nutrition among WSHGs and their communities. Despite challenges such as input costs and limited mola availability, WSHGs reported profitability from fish farming, with carp-mola polyculture systems yielding higher net income. Factors influencing productivity and profitability included water retention period, stocking density, feed application, and training. The program’s impact extended beyond economic benefits, encompassing environmental improvement, women’s empowerment, and enhanced nutrition outcomes.
The study highlights the success of the government program in promoting sustainable aquaculture practices and improving nutrition outcomes in Odisha. Continued support, capacity building, and collaboration among stakeholders are essential for scaling up nutrition-sensitive aquaculture interventions and ensuring long-term sustainability. Strengthening dissemination processes, addressing challenges, and further research on small indigenous fish production techniques are crucial for maximizing the program’s impact on food security and rural development.
... Furthermore, there is a lack of locally produced fish-based products from SIS that would improve both food and nutrition security. As Bangladesh is a fish-eating country, interventions focused on creating products from nutrient-dense SIS fish may be an effective avenue to combat malnutrition [6,7]. ...
... Research has supported the potential of aquaculture to meet local demands for ASFs [7]. Studies found that small-scale fisheries increase the local supply of fish and provision of essential micronutrients to improve the nutritional adequacy of locals [53,54]. ...
Undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies such as anemia are considered significant public health challenges in Bangladesh, which enhancing fish consumption is a well-established food-based intervention to address these. This paper documents the establishment of community-based fish chutney production and reports the impact of its consumption on mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels among targeted 150 pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in rural Bangladesh. A fish chutney was developed using locally available ingredients followed by a series of laboratory tests, including nutrient composition, shelf-life and food safety. A community-based fish chutney production process was designed to: (1) supply locally available ingredients for processing; (2) establish two fish drying sites; (3) initiate a community-based production site; and (4) distribute fish chutney to PLW for one year by six women nutrition field facilitators. Then a pre- and post-intervention study was designed for a selected 150 PLW to receive 30 g of fish chutney daily for 12 months. Differences in mean MUAC and Hb levels pre- and post-consumption were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Consumption of 30 g of fish-chutney resulted in significant increases of the mean values of Hb levels and MUAC among the targeted PLW.
... Extensive aquaculture systems that co-produce fish and rice can also lower the environmental burden of fish farming. A shift to highly nutrient-dense small indigenous fish species (SIS) can improve the nutrition benefits of farmed fish (Shepon et al, 2020). ...
The Bangladesh food system serves over 170 million people each day. One-third
of the Bangladesh population works in agriculture, while over 70% of available
land in Bangladesh is dedicated to farming. The food system delivers well on
several outcomes, including reducing poverty rates and food insecurity. However,
recent shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, have
hindered progress and caused stagnation in some food security indicators.
Over the coming decades, Bangladesh faces the challenge of feeding a fastgrowing population, expected to grow by another 50 million people over the
coming 25 years. Climate change is increasingly causing rivers to flood and coastal
areas to become more saline, thereby affecting food production capacity.
Urbanisation, economic growth and reductions in poverty levels will have a major
impact on the quantities and types of food that will be consumed.
... MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions, or products referred to in the content. Bangladesh, a low-and middle-income country, has made some visible progress in the economic and health sectors, although it has not kept pace in achieving significant improvements in reducing undernutrition [7]. The FAO definition describes this nexus of food and nutrition security which 'exists when all people at all times have physical, social and economic access to food, which is safe and consumed in sufficient quantity and quality to meet their dietary needs and food preferences, and is supported by an environment of adequate sanitation, health services and care, allowing for a healthy and active life' [8]. ...
... Furthermore, there is a lack of locally produced fish-based products from SIS that would improve both food and nutrition security. As Bangladesh is a fish-eating country, interventions focused on creating products from nutrient-dense SIS fish may be an effective avenue to combat malnutrition [6,7]. ...
... Research has supported the potential of aquaculture to meet local demands for ASFs [7]. Studies found that small-scale fisheries increase the local supply of fish and provision of essential micronutrients to improve the nutritional adequacy of locals [47,48]. ...
Undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies such as anemia are considered significant public health challenges in Bangladesh, which enhancing fish consumption is a well-established food-based intervention to address these. This paper documents the establishment of community-based fish chutney production and reports the impact of its consumption on mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels among targeted 150 pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in rural Bangladesh. A fish chutney was developed using locally available ingredients followed by a series of laboratory tests, including nutrient composition, shelf-life and food safety. A community-based fish chutney production process was designed to: 1) supply locally available ingredients for processing; 2) establish two fish drying sites; 3) initiate a community-based production site, and 4) distribute fish chutney to PLW by six women nutrition field facilitators for one year. Then a pre- and post-intervention study was designed for a selected 150 PLW to receive 30g of fish chutney daily for 12 months. Differences in mean mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels pre- and post-consumption were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Consumption of 30g of fish-chutney resulted in significant increases of the mean values of Hb levels and MUAC among the targeted PLW.
... At the regional level, the public sector should raise special funds to innovate aquaculture technology through multiple channels (Costello et al. 2020; Naylor Sumaila et al. 2021). For example, developing recirculating aquaculture systems and optimizing the composition of farmed species to reduce environmental externalities and achieve the sustainable and productive use of marine resources (Troell et al. 2014;Shepon et al. 2020;Garlock et al. 2023). ...
... Recent research has found that household engagement in aquaculture and horticulture simultaneously is associated with higher diet quality than either alone 19 . However, to date, little attention has been paid to whether IAA practices enhance production of micronutrients by smallholder farmers 20 . ...
Integrated aquaculture–agriculture (IAA) is a form of crop diversification where aquatic and terrestrial foods are grown together on a single parcel of land. We compare economic and nutrient productivity per hectare for 12 distinct IAA combinations, identified from a representative survey of 721 farms in southern Bangladesh. Just under half of households integrate agriculture into their aquaculture production. Regression analyses show positive associations between the integration of terrestrial foods into aquatic farming systems and nutrient productivity, but that nutrient productivity is partly disconnected from economic productivity. However, we find that production of specific combinations of aquatic foods and vegetables can simultaneously improve nutrient productivity and economic productivity, thereby promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA). The approach demonstrated here can be applied to the design of NSA programmes that are important for realizing nutrition-sensitive food systems.
... Several studies show that such characteristics and production practices/activities are critical in determining the quantity and quality of harvested fish from ponds and other sustainability outcomes such as generated income and household food security Tran et al., 2021;Saiful Islam et al., 2015. At the same time, they also dictate the environmental performance of aquaculture systems in terms of water quality, among others (Henriksson et al., 2018;Shepon et al., 2020). When considering the above, in this study we explore how such aquaculture system characteristics and practices/activities intersect with sustainability outcomes in terms of their: ...
The future demand for fish and other aquatic foods requires the sustainable intensification of related production systems. However, policy and investment decisions for the sustainable intensification of aquaculture systems are usually hindered by the lack of benchmarking data about their actual sustainability performance, often resulting in poorly developed and implemented interventions that ignore potential sustainability trade-offs. This is a reality in many of the leading aquaculture producers in the developing world like Egypt. In this study we analyzed farm-level data from 402 aquaculture producers in the Kafr El Sheikh governorate in Egypt, to characterize and benchmark the performance of tilapia production systems against key sustainability outcomes. For the analysis we used a combination of statistical tools such as ordinary least square regressions, simultaneous quantile regressions and propensity score matching. We focussed on how the production characteristics and practices of different tilapia production systems intersect with economic, food security, and environmental outcomes that cover multiple dimensions of sustainability. We found that differences in these production characteristics and practices were significantly associated with the sustainability performance of tilapia production systems. In particular, our results show that yields in monocultural systems (10,460.5 ton/ha) were significantly higher than in polyculture systems (8404.7 ton/ha). Furthermore, despite the generally positive economic, food security, and environmental outcomes of several of the studied systems, some trade-offs emerge both between and within these sustainability dimensions.
... 2 Although the nutritional characteristics and health benefits of consumption of aquatic foods are well known, 4,5 their contribution to food and nutritional food security is often underappreciated. 5,6 Here, we start from the premises that aquaculture will be essential in providing the world with sustainable supplies of affordable seafood; that aquaculture is currently contributing to human health and food security; and that aquaculture can and should do more. We focus on several strategies with potential to deliver improved nutrition and health outcomes: aquaculture feeds; genetic selection; whole fish and system approaches, and ecological aquaculture farming systems. ...
... 20 Although existing inland farms in Bangladesh could not replace important micro-nutrients and vitamins available from capture fisheries, models showed that re-orienting existing fish farms to produce 30% or more SIS could completely replace or surpass the nutrient contribution of capture fisheries. 6 Once seen as competitors or 'weed species' SIS are now appreciated as complementing pond production, increasing production, income and profits for producers and providing a food-based solution to food and nutrition security. 21 Although in many Asian countries small traditional ponds do supply a mix of species of all sizes, with apparent nutritional benefits, large markets for such products may not exist. ...